N-Q 1 special-opps_nq.htm QUARTERLY NOTICE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS






UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


 
FORM N-Q
 
 
QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT COMPANY
 


Investment Company Act file number 811-07528


Special Opportunities Fund, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 
615 East Michigan Street
 
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)


Andrew Dakos
Bulldog Investors, LLC
Park 80 West
250 Pehle Avenue, Suite 708
Saddle Brook, NJ 07663
(Name and address of agent for service)

Copy to:
Thomas R. Westle, Esp.
Blank Rome LLP
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020

1-877-607-0414
Registrant's telephone number, including area code


Date of fiscal year end: December 31, 2019


Date of reporting period:  September 30, 2019


 
Item 1. Schedule of Investments.
 
 
Special Opportunities Fund, Inc.
           
Portfolio of Investments
           
September 30, 2019 (Unaudited)
           
             
INVESTMENT COMPANIES - 88.15%
 
Shares
   
Value
 
Closed-End Funds - 81.73%
           
Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc.
   
407,108
   
$
1,705,783
 
Aberdeen Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund, Inc.
   
161,825
     
1,126,302
 
Aberdeen Japan Equity Fund, Inc.
   
114,992
     
837,142
 
Adams Diversified Equity Fund, Inc.
   
376,772
     
5,968,068
 
Adams Natural Resources Fund, Inc.
   
80,888
     
1,280,457
 
BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust
   
271,728
     
3,700,935
 
Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc.
   
670,080
     
7,504,896
 
BrandywineGLOBAL Global Income Opportunities Fund, Inc.
   
628,904
     
7,609,738
 
Central Securities Corp.
   
344,556
     
10,819,058
 
Dividend and Income Fund
   
339,290
     
4,054,516
 
DTF Tax-Free Income, Inc.
   
183,311
     
2,652,510
 
Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Income Plus Fund
   
94,951
     
1,444,205
 
First Trust Aberdeen Global Opportunity Income Fund
   
42,670
     
450,595
 
First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund
   
28,248
     
428,240
 
Franklin Universal Trust
   
184,643
     
1,392,208
 
General American Investors Co., Inc.
   
287,339
     
10,444,773
 
Highland Global Allocation Fund/CEF
   
155,119
     
1,589,970
 
Highland Income Fund
   
73,656
     
983,308
 
Invesco Dynamic Credit Opportunities Fund
   
506,794
     
5,579,802
 
Invesco High Income Trust II
   
113,735
     
1,628,685
 
Invesco Senior Income Trust
   
519,847
     
2,183,357
 
Japan Smaller Capitalization Fund, Inc.
   
352,923
     
3,095,135
 
Latin American Discovery Fund Escrow (a)
   
71,179
     
0
 
Mexico Equity & Income Fund, Inc.
   
131,107
     
1,378,970
 
NexPoint Strategic Opportunities Fund
   
75,789
     
1,358,897
 
Nuveen Connecticut Quality Municipal Income Fund
   
428,312
     
5,747,947
 
Nuveen Credit Strategies Income Fund
   
67,461
     
504,608
 
Nuveen Ohio Quality Municipal Income Fund
   
105,118
     
1,658,762
 
Pioneer Diversified High Income Trust
   
96,162
     
1,394,349
 
Royce Global Value Trust, Inc.
   
190,263
     
1,925,462
 
Source Capital, Inc.
   
185,099
     
6,758,816
 
Taiwan Fund, Inc. (a)
   
172,559
     
3,187,165
 
The Swiss Helvetia Fund, Inc. (a)
   
61,192
     
491,372
 
Vertical Capital Income Fund
   
310,486
     
3,315,990
 
Western Asset Corporate Loan Fund, Inc.
   
297,331
     
2,821,671
 
Western Asset Global High Income Fund, Inc.
   
59,889
     
594,698
 
Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund, Inc.
   
190,723
     
963,151
 
             
108,581,541
 
Business Development Companies - 6.42%
               
Alcentra Capital Corp.
   
227,217
     
2,019,959
 
Apollo Investment Corp.
   
51,400
     
827,026
 
Barings BDC, Inc.
   
97,359
     
988,194
 
Equus Total Return, Inc. (a)
   
106,919
     
172,139
 
FS KKR Capital Corp.
   
284,713
     
1,659,877
 
Garrison Capital, Inc.
   
33,076
     
228,555
 
MVC Capital, Inc.
   
239,975
     
2,135,777
 
OHA Investment Corp.
   
7,276
     
9,459
 
WhiteHorse Finance, Inc.
   
34,630
     
482,396
 
             
8,523,382
 
Total Investment Companies (Cost $110,380,592)
           
117,104,923
 


PREFERRED STOCKS - 3.76%
               
Real Estate Investment Trusts - 2.59%
               
Brookfield DTLA Fund Office Trust Investor, Inc. - Series A, 7.625%
   
171,723
     
3,434,460
 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance - 1.17%
               
Sachem Capital Corp., 7.125%
   
60,000
     
1,559,340
 
Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $5,970,241)
           
4,993,800
 
                 
OTHER COMMON STOCKS - 4.42%
               
Biotechnology - 0.03%
               
Xynomic Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. (a)
   
10,000
     
44,000
 
Professional Services - 2.69%
               
Hill International, Inc. (a)
   
1,195,255
     
3,573,812
 
Real Estate Investment Trusts - 1.09%
               
Brookfield Property REIT, Inc.
   
70,751
     
1,442,613
 
Real Estate Management & Development - 0.57%
               
Trinity Place Holdings, Inc. (a)
   
190,851
     
763,404
 
Software - 0.01%
               
Phunware, Inc. (a)
   
4,488
     
6,463
 
Specialty Retail - 0.03%
               
Kaixin Auto Holdings (a)(f)
   
25,000
     
45,000
 
Total Other Common Stocks (Cost $7,989,515)
           
5,875,292
 
                 
   
Shares/Units
         
SPECIAL PURPOSE ACQUISITION VEHICLES - 26.88% (a)
               
Acamar Partners Acquisition Corp.
   
79,998
     
780,780
 
Acamar Partners Acquisition Corp. Units
   
2
     
20
 
Agba Acquisition Ltd. (f)
   
51,750
     
514,913
 
Alberton Acquisition Corp. (f)
   
100,000
     
1,025,000
 
Allegro Merger Corp.
   
200,080
     
2,024,810
 
AMCI Acquisition Corp.
   
50,000
     
501,500
 
Andina Acquisition Corp. III (f)
   
120,950
     
1,208,291
 
Apex Technology Acquisition Corp. Units
   
109,400
     
1,114,786
 
B Riley Principal Merger Corp.
   
35,000
     
346,850
 
Boxwood Merger Corp.
   
50,000
     
503,750
 
CF Finance Acquisition Corp.
   
40,000
     
404,400
 
Churchill Capital Corp. II
   
88,662
     
888,393
 
Churchill Capital Corp. II Units
   
1
     
11
 
DFB Healthcare Acquisitions Corp.
   
49,998
     
508,980
 
DFB Healthcare Acquisitions Corp. Units
   
2
     
21
 
DiamondPeak Holdings Corp. Units
   
2
     
20
 
DiamondPeak Holdings Corp.
   
72,597
     
712,903
 
Edtechx Holdings Acquisition Corp.
   
40,325
     
409,299
 
Fellazo, Inc. Units (f)
   
130,000
     
1,294,800
 
Forum Merger II Corp.
   
113,939
     
1,151,923
 
GigCapital2, Inc.
   
102,250
     
1,005,117
 
Gordon Pointe Acquisition Corp.
   
106,000
     
1,109,820
 
Graf Industrial Corp. Units
   
2,800
     
28,840
 
Haymaker Acquisition Corp. II
   
40,341
     
399,376
 
Haymaker Acquisition Corp. II Units
   
1
     
10
 
HL Acquisitions Corp. (f)
   
34,456
     
350,762
 
Landcadia Holdings II, Inc.
   
69,000
     
674,130
 
Legacy Acquisition Corp.
   
137,500
     
1,402,500
 
Leisure Acquisition Corp.
   
133,138
     
1,360,670
 
LF Capital Acquisition Corp.
   
136,900
     
1,404,594
 
Longevity Acquisition Corp. (f)
   
63,286
     
652,479
 
Monocle Acquisition Corp.
   
59,500
     
592,620
 
Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corp.
   
49,182
     
501,165
 
Netfin Acquisition Corp. Units (f)
   
44,800
     
452,032
 
New Providence Acquisition Corp. Units
   
123,100
     
1,242,264
 
Orisun Acquisition Corp. Units
   
70,000
     
700,000
 
Pivotal Investment Corp. II Units
   
25,000
     
254,500
 
Pure Acquisition Corp.
   
69,826
     
715,716
 
RMG Acquisition Corp. Units
   
116,400
     
1,174,476
 
SC Health Corp. Units (f)
   
45,715
     
473,150
 
Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. Units
   
50,000
     
517,500
 
Sentinel Energy Services, Inc.
   
55,000
     
564,850
 
Social Capital Hedosophia Holdings Corp. (f)
   
100,000
     
1,070,000
 
Tenzing Acquisition Corp. (f)
   
54,305
     
562,057
 
Tiberius Acquisition Corp.
   
113,800
     
1,165,312
 
Tottenham Acquisition I Ltd. (f)
   
12,474
     
128,357
 
Trinity Merger Corp.
   
101,866
     
1,063,481
 
Tuscan Holdings Corp. II
   
240,032
     
2,354,714
 
VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.
   
38,325
     
391,298
 
Total Special Purpose Acquisition Vehicles (Cost $34,517,917)
           
35,703,240
 


   
Shares
         
LIQUIDATING TRUSTS - 0.13% (a)(c)(e)(g)
               
Crossroads Liquidating Trust
   
292,681
     
84,146
 
Winthrop Realty Trust
   
295,985
     
88,795
 
Total Liquidating Trusts (Cost $1,496,965)
           
172,941
 
                 
   
Principal
         
   
Amount
         
CONVERTIBLE NOTES - 1.45%
               
Emergent Capital, Inc. (b)(h)
               
5.000%, 02/15/2023
 
$
3,206,898
     
1,918,751
 
Total Convertible Notes (Cost $3,078,860)
           
1,918,751
 
                 
CORPORATE NOTES - 4.57% (b)
               
Great Elm Capital Corp.
               
6.500%, 09/18/2022
   
32,735
     
825,904
 
6.750%, 01/31/2025
   
6,685
     
167,593
 
MVC Capital, Inc.
               
6.250%, 11/30/2022
   
200,000
     
5,080,000
 
Total Corporate Notes (Cost $5,985,500)
           
6,073,497
 
                 
SENIOR SECURED NOTES - 1.05%
               
Emergent Capital, Inc. (b)(c)(e)
               
8.500%, 07/28/2021
   
1,600,000
     
1,400,000
 
Total Senior Secured Notes (Cost $1,600,000)
           
1,400,000
 
                 
   
Shares
         
WARRANTS - 0.95% (a)
               
Acamar Partners Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: February 2026
   
26,666
     
14,933
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Agba Acquisition Ltd.
               
Expiration: May 2024
   
51,750
     
4,140
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (f)
               
Alberton Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: November 2023
   
70,000
     
7,700
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (f)
               
Allegro Merger Corp.
               
Expiration: January 2025
   
200,080
     
44,018
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
AMCI Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: October 2025
   
50,000
     
17,500
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Andina Acquisition Corp. III
               
Expiration: March 2024
   
120,950
     
24,214
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (f)
               
B Riley Principal Merger Corp.
               
Expiration: April 2024
   
17,500
     
7,875
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Big Rock Partners Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: December 2022
   
55,801
     
9,486
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Bioceres Crop Solutions Corp.
               
Expiration: March 2024
   
68,763
     
23,372
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (f)
               
Boxwood Merger Corp.
               
Expiration: November 2025
   
50,000
     
35,000
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
CF Finance Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: April 2025
   
30,000
     
19,500
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Churchill Capital Corp. II
               
Expiration: July 2024
   
29,554
     
42,853
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
DFB Healthcare Acquisitions Corp.
               
Expiration: April 2023
   
16,666
     
23,999
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
DiamondPeak Holdings Corp.
               
Expiration: April 2024
   
24,199
     
20,569
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Edtechx Holdings Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: December 2025
   
40,325
     
9,634
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Emergent Capital, Inc.
               
Expiration: July 2025
   
640,000
     
0
 
Exercise Price: $0.00 (c)(e)
               
Forum Merger II Corp.
               
Expiration: September 2025
   
68,439
     
40,379
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
GigCapital2, Inc.
               
Expiration: July 2024
   
102,250
     
28,712
 


Haymaker Acquisition Corp. II
               
Expiration: October 2026
   
13,447
     
20,148
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
HL Acquisitions Corp.
               
Expiration: July 2023
   
34,456
     
8,958
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (f)
               
Hunter Maritime Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: March 2024
   
46,221
     
971
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (f)
               
KBL Merger Corp. IV
               
Expiration: January 2024
   
275,000
     
24,750
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Landcadia Holdings II, Inc.
               
Expiration: May 2026
   
23,000
     
17,710
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Legacy Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: November 2022
   
118,750
     
41,562
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Leisure Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: December 2022
   
30,644
     
22,064
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
LF Capital Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: June 2023
   
124,850
     
39,952
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Longevity Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: July 2025
   
63,286
     
5,696
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (f)
               
Monocle Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: June 2024
   
59,500
     
24,990
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: March 2025
   
49,182
     
29,509
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Pensare Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: August 2022
   
19,254
     
4,236
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Pure Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: April 2023
   
273,277
     
286,941
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Reebonz Holding Ltd.
               
Expiration: December 2023
   
56,895
     
228
 
Exercise Price: $92.00 (f)
               
Simplicity Esports and Gaming Co.
               
Expiration: November 2023
   
29,549
     
9,751
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Tenzing Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: August 2025
   
54,305
     
9,775
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (f)
               
Tiberius Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: April 2023
   
113,800
     
67,142
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
TKK Symphony Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: August 2023
   
212,439
     
19,119
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (f)
               
Tottenham Acquisition I Ltd.
               
Expiration: June 2025
   
12,474
     
2,121
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (f)
               
Trident Acquisitions Corp.
               
Expiration: June 2021
   
175,020
     
26,253
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Trinity Merger Corp.
               
Expiration: May 2023
   
97,377
     
123,669
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Tuscan Holdings Corp.
               
Expiration: April 2026
   
23,194
     
17,627
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Tuscan Holdings Corp. II
               
Expiration: July 2025
   
120,016
     
57,608
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
VectoIQ Acquisition Corp.
               
Expiration: June 2023
   
38,325
     
16,480
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Wealthbridge Acquisition Ltd.
               
Expiration: March 2024
   
40,000
     
4,400
 
Exercise Price: $11.50 (f)
               
Xynomic Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc.
               
Expiration: May 2024
   
50,000
     
3,000
 
Exercise Price: $11.50
               
Total Warrants (Cost $1,396,682)
           
1,258,544
 


RIGHTS - 0.25% (a)
               
Agba Acquisition Ltd. (Expiration: May 16, 2020) (f)
   
51,750
     
9,833
 
Alberton Acquisition Corp. (Expiration: October 24, 2019) (f)
   
70,000
     
20,300
 
Allegro Merger Corp. (Expiration: January 9, 2020)
   
200,080
     
50,020
 
Andina Acquisition Corp. III (Expiration: July 31, 2020) (f)
   
120,950
     
36,285
 
Big Rock Partners Acquisition Corp. (Expiration: November 22, 2019)
   
111,602
     
21,204
 
GigCapital2, Inc. (Expiration: December 10, 2020)
   
102,250
     
30,164
 
HL Acquisitions Corp. (Expiration: January 2, 2020) (f)
   
34,456
     
8,614
 
KBL Merger Corp. IV
   
275,000
     
49,500
 
Longevity Acquisition Corp. (Expiration: November 27, 2019) (f)
   
63,286
     
12,657
 
Pensare Acquisition Corp. (Expiration: December 1, 2019)
   
30,000
     
8,997
 
TKK Symphony Acquisition Corp. (Expiration: February 20, 2020) (f)
   
212,439
     
50,985
 
Tottenham Acquisition I Ltd. (Expiration: November 6, 2019) (f)
   
12,474
     
2,545
 
Twelve Seas Investment Co. (Expiration: December 22, 2019) (f)
   
81,000
     
25,920
 
Wealthbridge Acquisition Ltd. (Expiration February 8, 2020) (f)
   
40,000
     
8,804
 
Total Rights (Cost $449,830)
           
335,828
 
                 
MONEY MARKET FUNDS - 10.77%
               
Fidelity Institutional Government Portfolio - Class I, 1.860% (d)
   
7,156,362
     
7,156,362
 
STIT-Treasury Portfolio - Institutional Class, 1.765% (d)
   
7,156,363
     
7,156,363
 
Total Money Market Funds (Cost $14,312,725)
           
14,312,725
 
                 
Total Investments (Cost $187,178,827) - 142.38%
           
189,149,541
 
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets - (0.53)%
           
(700,936
)
Preferred Stock - (41.85)%
           
(55,599,400
)
TOTAL NET ASSETS - 100.00%
         
$
132,849,205
 
                 
Percentages are stated as a percent of net assets.
               

(a) 
Non-income producing security.
   
(b) 
The coupon rate shown represents the rate at September 30, 2019.
   
(c) 
Fair valued securities. The total market value of these securities was $1,572,941, representing  1.18% of net assets. Value determined using significant unobservable inputs.
   
(d) 
The rate shown represents the seven-day yield at September 30, 2019.
   
(e) 
Illiquid securities. The total market value of these securities was $1,572,941, representing 1.18% of net assets.
   
(f) 
Foreign-issued security.
   
(g) 
Security currently undergoing a full liquidation with all proceeds paid out to shareholders.
   
(h) 
Securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933. Such securities are deemed to be liquid and the aggregate value, $1,918,759, represents 1.45% of net assets.
   
       
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these schedule of investments.


 
Valuation of investments—The Fund calculates its net asset value based on the current market value for its portfolio securities. The Fund normally obtains market values for its securities from independent pricing sources and broker-dealers. Independent pricing sources may use last reported sale prices or if not available the most recent bid price, current market quotations or valuations from computerized “matrix” systems that derive values based on comparable securities. A matrix system incorporates parameters such as security quality, maturity and coupon, and/or research and evaluations by its staff, including review of broker-dealer market price quotations, if available, in determining the valuation of the portfolio securities. If a market value is not available from an independent pricing source or a broker-dealer for a particular security, that security is valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of the Fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). Various factors may be reviewed in order to make a good faith determination of a security’s fair value. Factors for other securities may include, but are not limited to, the type and cost of the security; contractual or legal restrictions on resale of the security; relevant financial or business developments of the issuer; actively traded similar or related securities; conversion or exchange rights on the security; related corporate actions; and changes in overall market conditions. If events occur that materially affect the value of securities between the close of trading in those securities and the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the securities may be fair valued. U.S. and foreign debt securities including short-term debt instruments having a maturity of 60 days or less shall be valued in accordance with the price supplied by a Pricing Service using the evaluated bid price. Money market mutual funds, demand notes and repurchase agreements are valued at cost, unless the Board or its delegate determines that this does not represent fair value.

The Fund has adopted fair valuation accounting standards that establish an authoritative definition of fair value and set out a hierarchy for measuring fair value. These standards require additional disclosures about the various input and valuation techniques used in measuring fair value. Fair value inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

Level 1—Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Fund has the ability to access.

Level 2—Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.

Level 3—Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available; representing the Fund’s own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available.


The availability of observable inputs can vary from security to security and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including, for example, the type of security, whether the security is new and not yet established in the marketplace, the liquidity of markets, and other characteristics particular to the security. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3.

The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls in its entirety, is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

The Fund adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-04 (“ASU 2011-04”), Fair Value Measurement: Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRS, which, among other things, clarifies existing disclosure requirements provided by ASC 820 regarding the level of disaggregation and the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value.

The significant unobservable inputs used in fair value measurement of the Fund’s investment companies, corporate bonds, promissory notes, liquidation claims and warrants are (1) cost and (2) indicative bids or price ranges from dealers, brokers, or market makers. Significant changes in any of these inputs in isolation may result in a change in higher fair value measurement.

In accordance with procedures established by the Fund’s Board of Directors, the Adviser shall initially value non-publicly-traded securities (for which a current market value is not readily available) at their acquisition cost less related expenses, where identifiable, unless and until the Adviser determines that such value does not represent fair value.

The Adviser sends a memorandum to the Chairman of the Valuation Committee with respect to any non-publicly-traded securities that are valued using a method other than cost detailing the reason, factors considered, and impact on the Fund’s NAV. If the Chairman determines that such fair valuation(s) require the involvement of the Valuation Committee, a special meeting of the Valuation Committee is called as soon as practicable to discuss such fair valuation(s). The Valuation Committee of the Board consists of at least two non-interested Directors, as defined by the Investment Company Act of 1940.

In addition to special meetings, the Valuation Committee meets prior to each regular quarterly Board meeting. At each quarterly meeting, the Adviser delivers a written report (the “Quarterly Report”) regarding any recommendations of fair valuation during the past quarter, including fair valuations which have not changed. The Valuation Committee reviews the Quarterly Report, discusses the valuation of the fair valued securities with appropriate levels of representatives from the Adviser’s management, and, unless more information is required, approves the valuation of fair valued securities.



The Valuation Committee also reviews other interim reports as necessary.

The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of September 30, 2019 in valuing the Fund's investments:
       
                         
   
Quoted Prices in Active
   
Significant Other
             
   
Markets for Identical
   
Observable Inputs
   
Unobservable Inputs
       
   
Investments (Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
   
(Level 3)*
   
Total
 
Investment Companies
                       
Closed-End Funds
 
$
108,581,541
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
108,581,541
 
Business Development Companies
   
8,523,382
     
-
     
-
     
8,523,382
 
Preferred Stocks
                               
Real Estate Investment Trusts
   
3,434,460
     
-
     
-
     
3,434,460
 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance
   
1,559,340
     
-
     
-
     
1,559,340
 
Other Common Stocks
                               
Biotechnology
   
44,000
     
-
     
-
     
44,000
 
Professional Services
   
3,573,812
     
-
     
-
     
3,573,812
 
Real Estate Investment Trusts
   
1,442,613
     
-
     
-
     
1,442,613
 
Real Estate Management & Development
   
763,404
     
-
     
-
     
763,404
 
Software
   
6,463
     
-
     
-
     
6,463
 
Specialty Retail
   
45,000
     
-
     
-
     
45,000
 
Special Purpose Acquisition Vehicles
   
23,384,997
     
12,318,243
     
-
     
35,703,240
 
Liquidating Trusts
   
-
     
-
     
172,941
     
172,941
 
Convertible Notes
   
-
     
1,918,751
     
-
     
1,918,751
 
Corporate Notes
   
-
     
6,073,497
     
-
     
6,073,497
 
Senior Secured Notes
   
-
     
-
     
1,400,000
     
1,400,000
 
Warrants
   
875,656
     
382,888
     
0
     
1,258,544
 
Rights
   
184,735
     
151,093
     
-
     
335,828
 
Money Market Funds
   
14,312,725
     
-
     
-
     
14,312,725
 
Total
 
$
166,732,128
   
$
20,844,472
   
$
1,572,941
   
$
189,149,541
 
                                 
*The Fund measures Level 3 activity as of the beginning and end of each financial reporting period.
                 

 
Special Opportunities Fund
       
             
The fair value of derivative instruments as reported within the Schedule of Investments as of September 30, 2019:
             
Derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments
Statement of Assets & Liabilities Location
Value
 
Equity Contracts - Warrants
Investments, at value
 
 $                                             1,258,544
 
             
The effect of derivative instruments on the income for the period ended September 30, 2019:
 
             
   
Amount of Realized Gain on Derivatives Recognized in Income
 
Derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments
Statement of Operations Location
Value
 
Equity Contracts - Warrants
Net Realized Gain
 
 $                                                291,865
 
     
on Investments
     
             
   
Change in Unrealized Appreciation on Derivatives Recognized in Income
 
Derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments
Statement of Operations Location
Total
 
Equity Contracts - Warrants
Net change in unrealized
 $                                                  32,975
 
     
appreciation of investments
 



Level 3 Reconciliation Disclosure
                                       
The following is a reconciliation of Level 3 assets for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value:
           
                                         
Category
 
Preferred
Stocks
   
Liquidating
Trusts
   
Convertible
Notes
   
Corporate
Bonds
   
Senior Secured
Notes
   
Warrants
     
Balance as of 12/31/2018
 
$
3,421,000
   
$
434,909
   
$
273,806
   
$
15,000
   
$
1,600,000
   
$
26,640
     
Dispositions
   
-
     
(16,341
)
   
(273,806
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
Transfers into (out of) Level 3
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
(26,640
)
(1)

Corporate Actions
   
(3,181,496
)
   
(102,439
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
Realized Gain (Loss)
   
-
     
11,818
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
   
(239,504
)
   
(155,006
)
   
-
     
(15,000
)
   
(200,000
)
   
-
     
Balance as of 9/30/19
 
$
-
   
$
172,941
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
1,400,000
   
$
0
     
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) during the period for Level 3 investments held at September 30, 2019
 
$
-
   
$
(157,605
)
 
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
(200,000
)
 
$
-
     

(1) Tranfer out of Level 3 is due to a security currently obtaining a price by ICE that was previously priced by the Adviser.
     
                 
The following table presents additional information about valuation methodologies and inputs used for investments that are measured at fair value and
   
categorized within Level 3 as of September 30, 2019:
           
                 

Category
 
Fair Value
September 30, 2019
 
Valuation
Methodologies
Unobservable
Input
 
Range
 
Liquidating Trusts
 
$
172,941
 
Last Traded Price
Financial
Assessments/
Company
Announcements
and Discount to
Liquidation Value

 
$
0.2875-0.83
 
Senior Secured Notes
   
1,400,000
 
Company-Specific
Information
Terms of the Note/ Financial
Assessments/
Company
Announcements

   
87.50-100.00
 
Warrants
   
0
 
Last Traded Price
Market
Assessments
   
0.00
 



Item 2. Controls and Procedures.
 
(a)
The Registrant’s President and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”)) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c)) are effective as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on the evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rule 13a-15(b) or Rule 15d‑15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(d)).

(b)
There were no changes in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the Registrant's last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
 
Item 3. Exhibits.
 
Separate certifications for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the Registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)).  Filed herewith.
 


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


(Registrant)  Special Opportunities Fund, Inc.                                                    


By (Signature and Title)  /s/ Andrew Dakos                                                       
Andrew Dakos, President

Date  November 19, 2019                                                                                    


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


By (Signature and Title)  /s/ Andrew Dakos                                                         
Andrew Dakos, President

Date  November 19, 2019                                                                                     


By (Signature and Title)  /s/ Thomas Antonucci                                                  
Thomas Antonucci, Chief Financial Officer

Date  November 19, 2019